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All Ireland Football Championship 2025

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Replying To JackieboyfromTara:  "Kildare have beaten Kerry in championship once in 97 years
Kildare have beaten Dublin twice in championship in 50 years
Kildare haven't beaten Galway in championship in 102 years

Meath beat Kerry Galway and Dublin this year.

Meath have beaten more top teams this year than kildare have in last 25 years eg Kildare only victory over top team this century eg Mayo 2018. Kildare have only beaten two top teams outsie leinster in last 97 years. They are Mayo in 2018 and kerry in 1998. Meath beat two top teams outside leinster this summer.

Meath have had great year, huge progress with one youngest teams in the country.

First leinster team to beat Dublin in 15 years.
Meaths defeat over kerry was kerrys worst defeat in championship in 24 years, and 5th worst to team outside Munster in their history.
First leinster team to reach All Ireland semi final in 15 years. * outside Dubs.
Meath are first team in 140 years of gaelic football to beat kery Dublin Galway in same year in same championship.

That's called progress. Anyone who says otherwise knows nothing about football or is jealous and bittr of Meath huge development this year.
I think kildare looking at their dreadful poor performances v div 3 and div 4 teams throughout this year and last year, need to be focusing on improving themselves."
Some laughable stats there....

Meath with the joint heaviest defeat in an All Ireland semi...
Along with Mayo ...20 points !

Belclare7 (Galway) - Posts: 341 - 13/07/2025 21:37:48    2625415

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Replying To St.Conleth:  "You forgot something..

Kildare never lost an All Ireland semi final by 20 points !!"
That'd because kildare were in div 3 for most last 100 years like they are now. Unable to win leinster or beat Dublin or Kerry.

In last 97 years
kildare have reached 4 All Ireland semi finals
Meath have reached 22 All Ireland semi finals in the same time period.

Of course kildare didn't get hammered All Ireland semi final because you never reach them. While Meath hammered great Down team of 60s and great kerry team of 00s in semi finals. And beat great Cavan of 30s and 40s in semi finals. And beating great Donegal Armagh Derry and Tyrone teams in semi finals.

JackieboyfromTara (Meath) - Posts: 10 - 13/07/2025 21:47:02    2625416

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Disappointing weekend for us neutrals. Let's hope the final is good and close.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11689 - 13/07/2025 21:52:04    2625420

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Replying To Belclare7:  "Some laughable stats there....

Meath with the joint heaviest defeat in an All Ireland semi...
Along with Mayo ...20 points !"
Meath had a great year. One of the youngest teams in the country. Great potential. Any successful team has bad days. Dublin in 2009 and 2010 were hammered by Meath and kerry. Your own county were hammered by Donegal. Beating kerry Dublin Galway in same championship shows huge progress. Any one doesn't think so, knows nothing about GAA, or bitter or jealous of Meath progress. Look age of Meath team. Only 1 1/2 years together. Comparee to Donegal team 5 of 6 years together. So many of their players 27 28 29.
Look at Meath team age
.
Billy Hogan 21
Brian O'Halloran 21
Sean Rafferty 25
Sean Coffey 22
Ciaran Caulfield 21
Conor Gray 21
Adam O'Neill 23
Conor Duke 20
Ruari kinsella 21
Jack kinlough 20
Keith Curtis 23
Jordan Morris 25
Matthew Costello 24
Cathal Hickey 24
Eoghan Frayne 22
Cian McBride 23

That's Youngest Meath team ever reach semi final. Not one player on team aged 26 27 28 29. Also injuries caught up with Meath. With 4 midfielders injured Brian Menton, Ronan Jones, Jack Flynn all injured Meaths best midfielders. Jack kinlough huge talent excellent in leagur did his ACL. James Conlon Meaths best forward in championship also injured. Cathal Hickey very important impact sub, injured today. Donegal would still have won. But Meaths inexperience young age injuries all caught with them. Anyone can see Meath are coming team with huge potential.

JackieboyfromTara (Meath) - Posts: 10 - 13/07/2025 21:58:13    2625425

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Replying To JackieboyfromTara:  "Meath had a great year. One of the youngest teams in the country. Great potential. Any successful team has bad days. Dublin in 2009 and 2010 were hammered by Meath and kerry. Your own county were hammered by Donegal. Beating kerry Dublin Galway in same championship shows huge progress. Any one doesn't think so, knows nothing about GAA, or bitter or jealous of Meath progress. Look age of Meath team. Only 1 1/2 years together. Comparee to Donegal team 5 of 6 years together. So many of their players 27 28 29.
Look at Meath team age
.
Billy Hogan 21
Brian O'Halloran 21
Sean Rafferty 25
Sean Coffey 22
Ciaran Caulfield 21
Conor Gray 21
Adam O'Neill 23
Conor Duke 20
Ruari kinsella 21
Jack kinlough 20
Keith Curtis 23
Jordan Morris 25
Matthew Costello 24
Cathal Hickey 24
Eoghan Frayne 22
Cian McBride 23

That's Youngest Meath team ever reach semi final. Not one player on team aged 26 27 28 29. Also injuries caught up with Meath. With 4 midfielders injured Brian Menton, Ronan Jones, Jack Flynn all injured Meaths best midfielders. Jack kinlough huge talent excellent in leagur did his ACL. James Conlon Meaths best forward in championship also injured. Cathal Hickey very important impact sub, injured today. Donegal would still have won. But Meaths inexperience young age injuries all caught with them. Anyone can see Meath are coming team with huge potential."
It's not that there's bitterness or jealousy against Meath. It's lads like you crowing about past glories that's a bit tedious. Especially when it's to argue against any other opinion.

Anyway, it's 2025 and Meath lost an all Ireland semi final by 20 points. No past history is going to change that stat.

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1732 - 13/07/2025 22:56:20    2625442

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Replying To shaggykev:  "I'd say the OTB power rankings will look like this on Tuesday

1. Kerry
2. Donegal
3. Armagh
4. Galway ( Must be kicking themselves tonight)
5. Tyrone
6. Dublin
7. Monaghan
8. Derry
9. Mayo
10. Meath
11. Down
12. Louth
13. Cork
14. Cavan
15. Roscommon
16. Kildare
17. Clare out of top 16"
Louth best meath twice in 2025 but not enough to be ahead of them. Also we only lost by 16 points and that was up in ballybofey:)

Lúla571210 (Louth) - Posts: 143 - 13/07/2025 22:58:29    2625443

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Replying To JackieboyfromTara:  "Kildare have beaten Kerry in championship once in 97 years
Kildare have beaten Dublin twice in championship in 50 years
Kildare haven't beaten Galway in championship in 102 years

Meath beat Kerry Galway and Dublin this year.

Meath have beaten more top teams this year than kildare have in last 25 years eg Kildare only victory over top team this century eg Mayo 2018. Kildare have only beaten two top teams outsie leinster in last 97 years. They are Mayo in 2018 and kerry in 1998. Meath beat two top teams outside leinster this summer.

Meath have had great year, huge progress with one youngest teams in the country.

First leinster team to beat Dublin in 15 years.
Meaths defeat over kerry was kerrys worst defeat in championship in 24 years, and 5th worst to team outside Munster in their history.
First leinster team to reach All Ireland semi final in 15 years. * outside Dubs.
Meath are first team in 140 years of gaelic football to beat kery Dublin Galway in same year in same championship.

That's called progress. Anyone who says otherwise knows nothing about football or is jealous and bittr of Meath huge development this year.
I think kildare looking at their dreadful poor performances v div 3 and div 4 teams throughout this year and last year, need to be focusing on improving themselves."
Dont think a few of your facts are correct there. I remember kildare beating dublin in the league a few years ago. Also are meath the first ever team to even play dublin kerry and galway in the same championship if not 1 of the only teams so that's not much of a record to have. After today never mind kildare they can celebrate the Tailteann Cup win fair play to them. Meath should probably focus on improving themselves so they're not humiliated by 20 points again. Just a bit of friendly advice.

Lúla571210 (Louth) - Posts: 143 - 13/07/2025 23:04:40    2625449

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Replying To border Gael:  "Tyrone were going very well and impressive until the started slowing the play down. They've tried it in every game and it's not working. How many times yesterday did Mc Geary or Seanie oDonnell or big Con catch brilliant balls and tear into the Kerry 45 . Once passed to their half forward line , back around it went until they were either turned over or it was kicked wide. Stephen O Neill is a free man at the moment and Tyrone needs him as a forwards coach. It was his work in 2019 and 2020 that brought about Sam 21.
I feel he would bring a bit of steel to any forward line up."
Summed it up perfectly, one player in particular slows the whole play up and he was on the ball a lot. This player lasted the whole game instead of replacing him with Ruarai and keeping Mc Crory on.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2386 - 13/07/2025 23:32:00    2625456

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Replying To Lúla571210:  "Louth best meath twice in 2025 but not enough to be ahead of them. Also we only lost by 16 points and that was up in ballybofey:)"
You did indeed. but Meath made the semi finals and beat Kerry Dublin and Galway along the way. So they deserve to be ahead of you.

mr305 (Galway) - Posts: 70 - 14/07/2025 12:14:07    2625564

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Replying To Lúla571210:  "Louth best meath twice in 2025 but not enough to be ahead of them. Also we only lost by 16 points and that was up in ballybofey:)"
Meath ranked below Mayo and Derry? Based on league? Seems a bit harsh on Meath give they just played a SF

Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 371 - 14/07/2025 12:18:45    2625567

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So we now have the All Ireland Final most expected, after 2 disappointing and very one sided semi finals.

Bookies have Kerry as 8/11 favourites
Donegal @ 6/5
and I cant argue with that tbh.

The Donegal v Meath semi final was the biggest semi final winning margin since 1993 apparently.
But Meath losing their midfield anchor Menton made a massive difference to the game.
However, that 20pt defeat brought Meath back down to earth with a bang, unfortunately.

I was impressed with the Donegal defence but that kerry forward line are a different beast altogether..
Hoping we have a great game but I am expecting the same result as their 2014 final, but with a bigger winning margin.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4456 - 14/07/2025 12:27:45    2625572

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Replying To Lúla571210:  "Louth best meath twice in 2025 but not enough to be ahead of them. Also we only lost by 16 points and that was up in ballybofey:)"
Lol. Fair point.

To be honest, you could throw a blanket over the teams from Monaghan to Louth. I based it on the most recent form. Meath beating Kerry, Galway and Dublin will make most think they should be higher than where I put them and I get it.

It's just so fantastic to have such a competitive championship where any of 12 or 13 teams can beat each other on a given day.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 403 - 14/07/2025 12:28:32    2625573

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Replying To shaggykev:  "I'd say the OTB power rankings will look like this on Tuesday

1. Kerry
2. Donegal
3. Armagh
4. Galway ( Must be kicking themselves tonight)
5. Tyrone
6. Dublin
7. Monaghan
8. Derry
9. Mayo
10. Meath
11. Down
12. Louth
13. Cork
14. Cavan
15. Roscommon
16. Kildare
17. Clare out of top 16"
Looking at your list, I have to agree with you about Galway.
The top 3 are the top 3. Always going to be extremely tough for Armagh to go back2back.

Tyrone and Dublin were never gonna win Sam this year.
Fair play to Monaghan. Derry was so unpredictable.

But Galway are the stand out disappointment of the Football year for me.
I expected so much more from them this year.
They just never got going at all.
Personally, I think they need a change of management, but that is from the outside looking in.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4456 - 14/07/2025 12:36:02    2625577

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Replying To shaggykev:  "Lol. Fair point.

To be honest, you could throw a blanket over the teams from Monaghan to Louth. I based it on the most recent form. Meath beating Kerry, Galway and Dublin will make most think they should be higher than where I put them and I get it.

It's just so fantastic to have such a competitive championship where any of 12 or 13 teams can beat each other on a given day."
Ye that is true best of luck in 2 weeks time and well done yesterday. Ye saved the country from noise pollution from all those meath supporters...

Lúla571210 (Louth) - Posts: 143 - 14/07/2025 13:27:35    2625610

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Replying To shaggykev:  "Lol. Fair point.

To be honest, you could throw a blanket over the teams from Monaghan to Louth. I based it on the most recent form. Meath beating Kerry, Galway and Dublin will make most think they should be higher than where I put them and I get it.

It's just so fantastic to have such a competitive championship where any of 12 or 13 teams can beat each other on a given day."
Dublin's decline and the new rules have opened things up a lot, hopefully Sams for the hills again in 2025, it's been too long since he was here!
Some craic now for 2 weeks, the hunt for tickets begins!

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3349 - 14/07/2025 13:36:47    2625615

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Replying To Belclare7:  "Some laughable stats there....

Meath with the joint heaviest defeat in an All Ireland semi...
Along with Mayo ...20 points !"
As Oisin McConville said when someone put to him Armagh's defeat was the biggest defeat of reigning All Ireland champions that this statistic is null and void because of the rule changes.

GreenMan1987 (Meath) - Posts: 82 - 14/07/2025 13:52:06    2625619

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Replying To GreenMan1987:  "As Oisin McConville said when someone put to him Armagh's defeat was the biggest defeat of reigning All Ireland champions that this statistic is null and void because of the rule changes."
That is the case for armagh kerry game however not for the meath donegal as meath got 2 2 pointers and donegal only 1 so it would have been a heavier defeat without the new rules.

Lúla571210 (Louth) - Posts: 143 - 14/07/2025 14:45:53    2625636

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Replying To JackieboyfromTara:  "That'd because kildare were in div 3 for most last 100 years like they are now. Unable to win leinster or beat Dublin or Kerry.

In last 97 years
kildare have reached 4 All Ireland semi finals
Meath have reached 22 All Ireland semi finals in the same time period.

Of course kildare didn't get hammered All Ireland semi final because you never reach them. While Meath hammered great Down team of 60s and great kerry team of 00s in semi finals. And beat great Cavan of 30s and 40s in semi finals. And beating great Donegal Armagh Derry and Tyrone teams in semi finals."
Kildare have only been in Division 3 twice in the last 30+ years. Anyway this is not about Kildare although it is a back handed compliment you seem so obsessed with us. We have a strong body of work find into underage and schools over the past 15 years that has resulted in consistent high level performances by Kildare underage teams resulting in 4 Leinster minor titles, 4 u21/20 leinsters and two All-Irelands, plus a Hogan cup and five Brother Bosco Post Primary Leinster titles by Naas CBS, which covers a raft of clubs in North Kildare, also consistent strong last four and final appearances by other Kildare schools. Combined with a strong club championship (in 2023 all three Kildare champions reached their respective provincial finals winning two of them)

The missing piece was a competent and serious senior management setup, now we have that in place, a young manager who has already delivered 2 U20 Leinster titles and and All-Ireland and now a Tailteann Cup. What Kildare is building is based on substance not media hype.

Meath fell over the line against a zombie Dublin team, half a Kerry team in a glorified challenge match, not a knockout championship game and a Galway team who only played for 10 minutes and blew ye out of the water. Yesterday was always going to be the litmus test against a fully primed Division 1 team. We saw the outcome of that was not pretty and a stark reminder of Meath's place in the pecking order.

LilywhiteGael (Kildare) - Posts: 132 - 14/07/2025 15:09:47    2625646

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Disappointing weekend for us neutrals. Let's hope the final is good and close."
Since the group stage finished it's been mainly disappointing for neutrals, after all the rule changes so much more was expected yet last year neutrals had a lot better knock out games to watch. Final should be good but looks like HQ will be back tweaking once again before the NFL in 2026.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 537 - 14/07/2025 15:51:25    2625656

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Replying To Lúla571210:  "That is the case for armagh kerry game however not for the meath donegal as meath got 2 2 pointers and donegal only 1 so it would have been a heavier defeat without the new rules."
It's very different, forgetting about 2 pointers the level of scoring in games is far higher due to requirements to keep players in position making it harder to defend.

GreenMan1987 (Meath) - Posts: 82 - 14/07/2025 15:56:58    2625658

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